Connecting With KIDZ

I bring more than fifteen years of experience working with young children to build relationships, bridge communication, promote early childhood literacy and social-emotional development with sign language. My experience includes curriculum development; facilitating professional development training for teachers and other education professionals; conducting Baby Signs® Certification training for Head Start Programs; Early Childhood Family Resource and Childcare Centers; as well as conducting Baby Signs and On The Grow classes for parents and caregivers of young children birth to 5 years of age. Prior to becoming an Early Childhood Education Specialist, I spent ten years as a classroom teacher and five years as a Program Assistant with Head Start.

I am a passionate early childhood advocate who brings a blended teaching style to my classroom. My style includes integrating technology into my early childhood curriculum which provides innovative tools to enhance student learning; using cooperative learning structures that allow children to work together, thus maximizing the level of participation and finally, incorporating differentiated instruction allows me to tailor learning experiences to meet the individual needs of students in the classroom. Allowing children to select activities based on areas of interest is great way to differentiate. Offering choices is an excellent motivator for children. Small-group work is one of the most effective ways to meet the needs of diverse learners in large class settings. My ultimate goal as an education specialist is promoting the social, emotional and academic growth of early childhood learners.

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Masters in Early Childhood Education, with focus on early childhood literacy. Certified Early Childhood Educator, Level-1 Sign Language and Baby Signs Certified Instructor.

An experienced trainer/educator and coach with knowledge of a variety of assessment tools such as; Classroom Assessment Scoring Systems™ (CLASS™),Teaching Strategies Gold, Early Childhood Environment Rating Scales (ECERS), High-Scope for Infant & Toddlers and Child Observation Record (COR). I’m a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC), Arizona Head Start Association (AHASA), the National Association for Child Care (NAFCC) and is part of the certified Baby Signs Instructors Network.